Friday, February 1, 2013

Well, how are you doing with your resolutions? Have you already gotten bored with them and quit? Perhaps you're still sticking with them, but need a bit of encouragement. The year hasn't gotten off to what I hoped for yet, but I am still expecting good things this year. When I start straying from what I had envisioned, this is what I do ... I press forward only. Paul the apostle says it like this in Philippians. "I press forward (only), looking and moving forward to the prize." (emphasis mine).What does that mean? Keep moving forward only even when life takes you back a step. We are to keep going in spite of our difficulties or set backs. The only way we can do that is to remind ourselves that there is a prize waiting for us if we stick to the plan.Any runner knows that there will be only one winner, yet all run anyway hoping it will be them. If you are a Christian, you don't have to be discouraged in your race, because all who follow Christ will win the prize. I like being in a race where I am guaranteed to win - always.If we let God take our hurts, pain, suffering, disappointments and guilt he is willing to forgive all our mistakes. We are free to move forward as He intended. Don't give up; God hasn't given up on you. Old things are passed away, behold all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Be encouraged today and press FORWARD ONLY toward your goal. Let faith arise in you. Lift up your hands and praise God that the prize has yet to be given. You're still in the race.

1. Move toward holiness: Let God transform you. Conform your will to His. Let Him mold your heart, mind and will so that you will run safely, swiftly and complete the race.2. Move toward brokenness: Realize that until your will is broken, you aren't going to move anywhere. Let God break your will so you can be re-molded in the Potter's hands.

3. Move toward faithfulness: Let God lead you to the life He has laid out for you. It is a good one, and it will lead you to the prize and finish line you desire.

Pressing Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-16 (NKJV)

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,[b] let us be of the same mind.(Scripture from BibleGateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203&version=NKJV)

No doubt. taking these steps will keep you moving FORWARD ONLY! Press on - I'll meet you at the finish line!